German solar developer Goldbeck Solar has started construction on a new solar park in Barnsdale, West Yorkshire. Located just outside Leeds, the project is being developed in partnership with OnPath Energy. Installation teams will deploy solar modules with a combined capacity of 55 megawatts across a 50-hectare site between Kippax and Allerton Bywater, east of Leeds.
Grid connection scheduled for 2026
Goldbeck Solar is acting as the EPC contractor, responsible for engineering, procurement, construction and grid connection. The solar power plant will be linked to the nearby Ledston Primary substation, with energisation scheduled for spring 2026. Once completed, Goldbeck Solar will also take on operation and maintenance of the plant for two years.
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Clean energy for 13,000 households
According to project planners, the facility is expected to generate around 54 gigawatt-hours of solar electricity per year – enough to meet the annual needs of approximately 13,000 homes in the Leeds area. The project marks a key step in Goldbeck Solar’s expansion in the UK. “The complexity of this site highlights the importance of sound planning and technical expertise,” said Colin Deans, UK Country Manager at Goldbeck Solar.
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Environmental Gains
The Barnsdale Solar Energy Park is designed not only to generate clean electricity, but also to support local wildlife. To boost biodiversity, the developers plan to establish wildflower meadows and multiple wetland zones. Native shrubs and extensive hedgerows will also be planted. According to the company, these efforts are expected to deliver a biodiversity net gain of 106 per cent – the highest recorded for any renewable energy project in the Leeds area.
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Supporting the Local Community
The benefits of the project extend to the local community as well. Over the lifetime of the Barnsdale project, OnPath Energy will channel more than £800,000 from project revenues into a community fund. The fund will support local charities, volunteer groups and environmental initiatives. (su)
